opened with considerable effect upon the fugitives in this situation. The commander in chief headed in person the seventysixth regiment, which exhibited, under such a glorious example, the most eminent proofs of valour and discipline.

While these operations took place to the right under the immediate direction of the commander in chief, the left wing under Major General St. John, attacked the enemy with great vigour, and the success of the British arms was complete in every point. The enemy left the whole of their artillery, sixty-eight pieces of ordnance, and thirty-seven tumbrils laden with ammunition were thrown up in the field of battle, exclusive of which, many tumbrils and ammunition carriages were left by the enemy in the Jumna, and in the Jehnah Nullah. Two tumbrils containing treasure were also taken on the field of battle.

The loss of the enemy was very considerable, and has been estimated to have amounted to three thousand men. The exer

tions of the British army were proportionate to the brilliant result of this glorious victory, and the whole army, with the commander in chief, was under arms for seventeen hours. After the action, fresh ground nearer the river.

the army

took up

The battle was fought within view of the minarets of Delhi, and the whole army encamped the next day close to the Jumna river, opposite to that city. The unfortunate Emperor Shah Aulum, sent to General Lake immediately after the action, to express his anxious desire to place his person and authority under the protection of the victorious arms of the British Government.

On the 14th of September the army began to cross the Jumna, and on the same day Monsieur Bourquuien, who commanded the forces of the enemy in the late action of the 11th of September, together with four other French officers, surrendered themselves as prisoners to General Lake.

His Excellency the commander in chief had the honour to pay his first visit to his Majesty Shah Aulum on the 16th of September, and to congratulate his Majesty on his emancipation from the controul of the French faction which had so long oppressed and degraded him. It appears that his Majesty was graciously pleased to direct his eldest son and heir apparent, the Prince Mirza Akbar Shah, to conduct the commander in chief to his royal presence. The Prince was to have arrived at the commander in chief's tent at twelve o'clock, but did not reach the British camp until half past three o'clock, p. m. By the time his Royal Highness had been received, remounted on his elephant,

and the whole cavalcade formed, it was half past four o'clock. The distance being five miles, the commander in chief did not reach the palace of Delhi until sunset. The crowd in the city was extraordinary, and it was with some difficulty that the cavalcade could make its way to the palace. The courts of the palace were full of people, anxious to witness the deliverance of their sovereign from a state of degradation and bondage. At length the commander in chief was ushered into the royal presence, and found the unfortunate and venerable Emperor, oppressed by the accumulated calamities of old age, degraded authority, extreme poverty, and loss of sight, seated under a small tattered canopy, the remnant of his royal state, with every external appearance of the misery of his condition.

It is impossible to describe the impression which General Lake's conduct on this interesting occasion, made on the minds of the inhabitants of Delhi, and of all the Mussulmans, who have had an opportunity of being made acquainted with the occurrences of the 16th of September, 1803. In the metaphorical language of Asia, the native news-writers who describe this extraordinary scene, here declared that his Majesty Shah Aulum recovered sight from excess of joy. In addition to many other marks of royal favour and condescension, the Emperor was pleased to confer on General Lake the second title in the empire. P

The result of the spirited and judicious operation at Coel on the 29th of August, of the gallant assault of Aly. Ghur on the 9th, and of the glorious battle of Delhi on the 11th of September, deeply affected the French influence and authority, and secured to the British power, the possession of the Doab of the Ganges and Jumna.

These important victories rescued the unfortunate Emperor Shah Aulum, from the power of his oppressors. By the success of our arms, interesting purposes of humanity were accomplished; and so far as this object is regarded in a political point of view, his Majesty Shah Aulum, being placed under the protection of the British Government, no other power caù now avail itself of the weight and influence which the Emperor's name must ever possess amongst the Mussulman inhabitants of Hindostan, 9

p The Persian titles conferred on General Lake are: Sumsam u Doulab Ashgbah ul Mulk Dowran Khan, General Gerard Lake Bahadur, Futteh Jung: signifying in English, "The Saver of the State, the Hero of the Land, the Lord of the Age, and the Victorious in War."

4 Notes on Marhatta War, p. 86, 100.

Having made the necessary arrangements for his march from Delhi, the commander in chief moved from that city towards Agra on September 24th. The army arrived at Muttra on October 2d. A summons was immediately sent to the garrison, but was unanswered. Seven battalions of the enemy's infantry were encamped on the outside of the fort, and occupied the town and principal mosque of Agra. These the General resolved to dislodge. Colonel Clarke on the 10th was therefore ordered to take possession of the town. The attack succeeded, and the ravines were equally carried. On the evening of the 13th, the garrison of the fort solicited a cessation of hostilities; but while negociating, treacherously recommenced their fire. The breaching batteries were therefore again opened; and the fort capitulated on the night of the 17th.

The intelligence of the happy termination of this branch of the brilliant campaign on the north-west frontier of Oude, was received at Fort William with sentiments of joy and admiration proportionate to the public sense of the bravery, spirit, activity, and eminent talents manifested by General Lake, as well as of the valour, discipline, and persevering courage of the officers and men of the gallant army, which under his personal command, and imitating his illustrious example, had accomplished with unexampled rapidity all the important services prescribed in the Governor-General's comprehensive plan of operations for this branch of the campaign. "

The British army marched from Agra on October 27th in pursuit of a force of the enemy, composed of fifteen of Monsieur Perron's regular battalions (which had been detached by Scindiah from the Dekan in the early part of the campaign under the command of Monsieur Dudernaique), and of two battalions which had effected their escape from Delhi, after the battle of the 11th of September.

On October 31st the army marched thirty miles, and encamped a short distance from the ground, which the enemy had quitted the same morning. The General now resolved to make an effort to overtake them with all the cavalry of the army. He marched at twelve at night of October 31st, and having performed a march of thirty-five miles, came up with the enemy at seven in the morning of November 1st. At this time they appeared to be

retreating in confusion; and the General was induced to try the effect of an attack with the cavalry alone. The enemy had ren. dered the road difficult to pass by cutting the enbankment of a large reservoir of water; which enabled them to occupy an advantageous position near the village of Laswaree. A cloud of dust obscured them; and prevented General Lake from seeing this change of their position. The cavalry attacked and succeeded; but owing to this circumstance suffered much. Colonel Vandaleur was killed in the charge.

At length the British infantry arrived on the banks of the rivulet about twelve at noon; while repassing, the enemy sent a message offering on certain terms to surrender. The General allowed them one hour to fulfil the conditions proposed. "

At the expiration of the time which General Lake had allowed the enemy to determine on a surrender of their guns, no reply having been received from the enemy, the British infantry advanced to the attack, moving along the banks of the rivulet through high grass and broken ground, which afforded cover. As soon as the British infantry became exposed to the enemy's guns, the four British batteries commenced their fire and continued to advance, notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy's artillery both in number and weight of metal. The cannonade on both sides. was extremely severe, and maintained with great spirit and vigour. The enemy's artillery was exceedingly well served, and they threw grape from large mortars, as well as from guns of a very heavy calibre.

When the seventy-sixth regiment which headed the attack, had arrived within one hundred and fifty paces of the enemy's fire, they were losing men so fast, that the commander in chief judged it preferable to proceed to the attack with that regiment, and as many of the native infantry (the second battalion of the twelfth, and five companies of the sixteenth) as had closed to the front, rather than to wait until the remainder of the column, which had been much impeded in its advance, should be able to form. As soon as this small body of brave men arrived within reach of the enemy's cannister shot, a most tremendous fire opened from the enemy's artillery. The loss sustained by the British troops was very severe, and the heavy cannonade from the enemy's line was sufficient alone to prevent a regular advance. At this moment the enemy's cavalry also attempted to charge, but

Notes on the Marhatta War, p. 108.

was repulsed by the fire of this gallant body of British infantry; the enemy's cavalry, however, rallied at a short distance, and assumed so menacing a posture, that the commander in chief ordered an attack from the British cavalry. Major Griffiths having at that instant been unfortunately killed by a cannon shot, this service was performed by his Majesty's twenty-ninth dragoons under Captain Wade, with the greatest gallantry and success, and in a manner highly honourable to every officer and trooper in that regiment. The remainder of the first column of the British infantry arrived in time to join in the attack of the enemy's reserve, which was formed in the rear of their first line, with its left upon the village of Mohaulpoor, and its right thrown back. About this time, Major-General Ware fell dead by a cannon shot. He was a gallant officer, and his loss deeply lamented. On his death the command of this column devolved upon Col. Macdonald, who, though wounded, continued to conduct himself in this important command, in a manner which was highly satisfactory to the commander in chief.

The enemy opposed a vigorous resistance to the last, and did not abandon their position until they had lost all their guns. Even then their left wing attempted to retreat in good order, but was frustrated by his Majesty's twenty-ninth regiment of dragoons, and the sixth regiment of native cavalry under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Vandeleur, of the eighth light dragoons, who broke in upon the enemy's column, cut several to pieces, and drove the rest in prisoners, with the whole of the enemy's baggage.

The loss which the British troops sustained in the achievement of this complete victory was severe. Two thousand of the enemy were taken prisoners, and there is every reason to believe that the remainder of the enemy was destroyed on the field of battle. The enemy left in the possession of the British troops the whole of their bazars, camp equipage, with a considerable number of elephants, camels, and upwards of 1600 bullocks; seventy-two pieces of cannon of different calibres, forty-four stands of colours, and sixty-four tumbrils completely laden with ammunition. Three tumbrils with money were also captured, together with fifty-seven carts laden with matchlocks, musquets, and stores, and some artificers carts. Several tumbrils with ammunition were blown up during the action, and five thousand stand of arms which had been thrown down by the enemy, were found on the field of battle. The whole of the ordnance taken, with the exception of